Garbiñe Muguruza floated out in front of Barbora Krejcikova to end up coming back a set (2-6, 6-3 and 6-4 in 2:13) and stay alive in the WTA Finals in Guadalajara (Mexico). I know will play the semi-final on Sunday against the surprising Anett Kontaveit, who with her 12th straight victory already closed her place after defeating Karolina Pliskova 6-2 and 6-0. The outcome in three sets means that both Muguruza and the two Czechs still have a mathematical chance of continuing to fight for the crown.
Garbiñe and the current Roland Garros champion had played this course three times. In Dubai, Muguruza took the title already with pique. In Cincinnati and the US Open, the triumph went to the now number three in the world (she started the 75th year) who with her stoppages ended up unhinging the caraqueña. She ended up accusing her of “unprofessional”. Nervous, Garbiñe already conceded a break, which she recovered, but got into a carousel of mistakes (18 up his sleeve for only two winners) and negativity That ended up costing her the set without the 25-year-old tennis player from Brno doing too much to win it.
However, Muguruza, in his fourth appearance in a Finals, shook off the obfuscation. A better defense, a sharper serve, a more positive attitude and the target on the drive (Krejcikova’s worst hit) resulted in a break for 3-1, and although the Czech neutralized it, the Spanish achieved another for 5-3 and serve. The game took another turn, because Garbiñe made merits to turn it around.
Muguruza, current world number five, promised after losing to Pliskova “fight to the end”. And so he did. In the third game of the final sleeve he did not despair after losing a break for not claiming a ball that went out and continuing the play. He kept rowing and materialized the sixth break ball to finish unleashing himself. He managed his advantage and was able to scream with rage and relief to celebrate his triumph.
“It was a very tough game, but it’s incredible how the stands helped me from the second set to come back. I did not start well and I had to motivate myself to get everything I had, “he summarized. She was dead and was resurrected.